Middle School Resources - Carolina Asia Center

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Math | Social Studies | Language Arts | Science | Visual Arts

Mandarin Chinese can be found under High School Resources

Math

The Abacus: A Different Type of Calculator
By Heidi C. Blue from Saint Columbkille Parish School, Parma, Ohio
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
This lesson will give students the opportunity to learn about the Chinese abascus and then create an abacus. Through different activities, students will learn the basics of how an abacus can be used in math class.

Social Studies

Dragons
By Michelle Mrakovich from Mayfield Middle School, Mayfield, Ohio
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will compare three countries- Korea, China, and Japan. Activities include debunking misconceptions of Chinese dragons and reading Lost Names to understand Korean culture.

Buddhism in Thailand
By Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell University
Based on work by Worrasit Tantinipankul, PHD candidate in City and Regional Planning at Cornell University
This lesson plan will examine Buddhism in Thailand. It will provide students with a basic understanding of Buddhist concepts, information about monks in Thailand, and how most Thai people practice Buddhism.

Capital City Planning
By Matthew Yingling from Westerville City Schools
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will be able to identify key locations in two capital cities (Washington DC and Chang’an) and hypothesize why they were built in those locations. This lesson will culminate in designing a fictitious capital city.

Chinese Characters: Our Names in Chinese
By Telisha LeFloria
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Teachers will have students write their names in Chinese either on white canvas cloth or on paper. The activity can be done at the end of the unit on Ancient China.

A Comparison of Student Activists
By John Ciferni
Published on and developed with The Korea Society
Students will analyze the different changes Korea experienced under Japanese occupation between 1910-1945. They will explore themes of nationalism and activism and compare role of activists in 1919 movement and Tiananmen Square protests. Students will utilize reading, Venn diagrams, articles, and interviews.

Confucianism
By Lauren Glaros from McCord Middle School
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will put together quotes from Confucius and then review each of the quotes. They will discuss whether Confucianism is still present in modern Chinese society.

Confucius and His Teachings
By Anita Russ
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will analyze the list of rules they live by and how rules keep a group of people together. Students will analyze “Analects” with a “Menu Plan” for presentation.

Dividing the Korean Peninsula
By Bridgette Nadzam-Kasubick
Published on and developed with The Korea Society
Students will draw a physical map of Korea and will define and analyze several boundaries of influence on the Korean peninsula. They will learn vocabulary on boundaries and read sources about the Korean War and the division of Korea. They will apply their geography knowledge to understanding the war. Common Core Standards and National Standards for Social Studies can be met.

The Effects of Limited Space on a Culture
By Kay Tomesk
Published on and developed with The Ohio Japan Project
Students will explore the influences of population density on culture and predict the impact of population density on shelter, transportation, recreation, land use, and social skills and then research that impact on Japan.

Genghis Khan: Hero or Villain?
By Jane Hill
Published on and developed with University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Students will be able to determine the characteristics needed to rule a vast land, explain how the Mongol empire affected trade, and explain changes that occurred in countries as a result of the Mongol conquest including Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan.

Korean Culture Project
By Jerome S. and Lindsey B.
Published on and developed with The Korea Society
This lesson is designed to incorporate specific instruction on Korea into the Asia unit of the Eastern Hemisphere geography curriculum. Students will create a graphic organizer to illustrate their own unique culture and do a project on Korea outlined in the lesson. Common Core Standards can be met.

The Korean Way of Tea
By Carolyn Chrisman
Published on and developed with The Korea Society
Students will explore tea ceremonies in Korea. They will be challenged to think more deeply about the meaning of tea to Koreans and its connection to Buddhism. This is great for an East Asia unit with accompaniment of tea ceremonies. National Standards for Social Studies can be met.

Korean Customs and Education System
By Edward Colacion
Published on and developed with The Korea Society
Student groups in class will write five key points about an assigned Korean topic (handouts included) and three key things about what they know about other cultures. They will use their research to present to the class.

Koryo’s International Trade: Exports and Imports
By Rachel Song
Published on and developed with The Korea Society
Students will look at Middle Ages nations in East Asia and analyze different sources to record commodities that were imported and exported between Koryo and its trade partners. They will create journal entries and write skits about what they learn. National Standards for Social Studies and Common Core Standards can be met.

Journey to Tibet
By Rob Fetters
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will plan a journey to Tibet and compose a slideshow of how they will explore Tibet.

Oral Histories of Migration: Asian Americans in North Carolina
By Kevin W. Fogg
In this lesson, students will learn to Identify key reasons why people immigrate to United States and understand the history of Asian migration to the United States. From this lesson, students will recognize Asian American leaders in business, government, and culture and understand the changes occurring in North Carolina and United States from these immigrants bringing their traditions and cultures. They will analyze oral histories as a primary source with their advantages and limitations. Resources include materials from the AAS publication Education about Asia, the Carolina Navigators program, and links to other material that may be appropriate for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.

Rural Environment and Society in Southeast Asia
By Christian C. Lentz from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Published on Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell University
This lesson promotes discussion about rural environments in Southeast Asia and how these problems translate in Southeast Asian society. It surveys contemporary problems while also taking into account the effects of the colonial period. For supplemental materials, click here. A bibliography of related sources can be found here.

Language Arts

Dragonwings
By Lydia Cardona
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will identify the theme of Dragonwings, a story of a Chinese boy who comes to California in 1903. They will identify characters’ traits and motivations. Students will demonstrate comprehension of the text through various activities.

Comparing Epic Literature of the East and the West
By Corinne Full
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will compare epic literature, characters and tales of Western society (the Odyssey) with the epic literature, characters and tales of Eastern society (the Journey to the West).

Folktales of Korea
By Amy Camardese
Published on and developed with The Korea Society
This lesson plan will provide the opportunity for students to learn about the history and culture of Korea using folktales. In addition, students will be able to delineate key components of Korea’s history by comparing it to United States’ history. National Standards for Social Studies and Common Core Standards can be met.

Korean Meals: Teaching Confucian Manners Through Dining Etiquette
By Karl Dotterweich
Published on and developed with The Korea Society
Students will review Confucianism and the context of religion in Korean society. Students will then eat a Korean meal using Korean table manners. They will compare Korean values and manners with their own and see how the way we organize society is reflected in our manners. National Standards for Social Studies and Common Core Standards can be met.

A Story of China with Lon Po Po, a Chinese Little Red Riding Hood
By Edith Swank from West Holmes Middle School, Millersburg, Ohio
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will study the elements of a story (setting, character, plot, and theme) using two versions of the folktale Little Red-Riding Hood.

Science

Bounce into Rubber: Natural Latex from Thailand
By Robin Bartoletti from LearnNC
This lesson investigates natural latex rubber sources from Thailand. Students will complete research and experiments to determine which plants from Thailand are sources of latex. They will also explore images and audio recordings of rubber harvesting in Thailand. NC Essential Standards and Curriculum Alignment can be met.

Getting the Word Out About Food Waste
By Fareed Mostoufi from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting
“This Common Core Standards-aligned lesson plan guides students through an analysis of the purpose and impact of reporting about food waste in Washington D.C. and South Korea. They view two short films by grantee Karim Chrobog and analyze how the structures of both films illustrate the author’s purpose for the reporting project. They then create their own media plans on reporting food waste issues in their communities.” Common Core Standards for Language Arts can be met.

The Mountains of Nepal: Scientific Investigations
By Robin Bartoletti from LearnNC
This lesson introduces students to the mountain ecosystems of Nepal. Activities include a brainstorming activity, in which students think about ecosystems and biodiversity; a research activity, in which students use a variety of sources to gather information about the mountain ecosystems of Nepal; and a journal activity, in which students create journal entries based on the information gathered in their research. NC Essential Standards and Curriculum Alignment can be met.

Salt trading in Asia
By Edie McDowell from LearnNC
This interdisciplinary lesson incorporates science, nutrition, geology, social studies, and language arts as students explore the mineral salt. A collection of images will afford students the opportunity to view salt farms in Vietnam and historic salt trade routes to Nepal. Students will use these images to demonstrate their understanding of salt production and trade by putting the images in order and writing a work of fact or fiction to accompany and explain this sequence. NC Essential Standards and Curriculum Alignment can be met.

Vietnam Waterways: Ecology and Conservation
By Edie McDowell from LearnNC
In this interdisciplinary lesson for grades 6-8, students will examine the relationship between the physical and cultural environment of the Mekong River valley in Vietnam. Students will evaluate the current conditions of the Mekong River and suggest long-range solutions for improving, restoring, or preserving the quality of the river. NC Essential Standards and Curriculum Alignment can be met.

Visual Arts

Chinese Knotting
By Bethany Boyd
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will learn about Chinese knotting and create their own Chinese knots. They will discuss the role and function of art objects within culture to describe ways in which artistic creations serve as expression of culture and influence the behavior of people living in a particular culture.

Chinese Landscape Scrolls
By Kathleen Fuller
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will create a landscape painting in a traditional Chinese style. They will explore and discuss images and writing from Chinese artists, comparing Chinese landscape artwork to Western art. They will embellish their artwork with a personal seal.

Gung Hay Fat Choy/The Chinese New Year
By Susan Stroh and Linda Glave from Prairie Heights Middle School
Published on and developed with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia- Ohio
Students will engage in comparing and contrasting New Year Celebrations. The goal of the lesson will be to cultivate an attitude of respect and for other cultures while engaging in cooperative learning activities. Activities include a Four-Corner activity, painting a Chinese animal figure and characters, and class celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Maps and Memory: Using Contemporary Art
By Pamela Nguyen Corey
Published on and developed with Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell University
This unit conveys a different approach to learning about history and geography by having students analyze contemporary artworks that reflect upon the collective memory and the cross-border impact of the Vietnam War and Pol Pot Regime. See page 8 for the Middle School Lesson Plan. National Standards for Visual Arts can be met.

The Carolina Asia Center supports diverse Asia-related lesson plans. However, CAC did not create these lesson plans. This lesson plan database does not constitute endorsement of or agreement with the views presented therein. As an academic institution, we value diverse perspectives that promote dialogue and understanding.